Past event
This interdisciplinary one-day conference aimed to explore the relationships – the possible conflicts and complements – between English (understood here as a wide-ranging set of practices and subject areas), education (broadly conceived), and social justice. Keynote speakers were Dr Velda Elliott, University of Oxford and Dr John Yandell, University of London.
English continues to be considered the most important school subject but also to attract endless contention about its content and future direction. It has often been a space for exploration of ethics, identities and cultural value through the study of literature, media and language.
English is experiencing a decline in popularity at ‘A’ level and degree level, this is one factor in an increasing shortage of English teachers. Recent research suggests considerable dissatisfaction amongst English teachers about the current ‘state’ of English, the corrosive effect of high stakes testing and the reduction in teacher autonomy and levels of choice over texts and themes. Another major concern is the reduction in diversity being increasingly felt in a highly prescribed curriculum.
However, at a time of change post Covid, and with the increasing likelihood of a change in political direction, there is considerable hope that English may be given much greater opportunity to recover its emancipatory potential to contribute to social justice education.
We encourage submissions from individuals and small groups at any and every career-stage, working in education, academia, and any other relevant field. University, college, and school students are welcome to submit proposals, or to attend as delegates. Student-teacher (and/or similar) collaborations are encouraged. As well as topics related to English, submissions are encouraged on Education more generally, such as :-
Draft programme:
University of Oxford
Velda Elliott is Associate Professor of English and Literacy Education at the University of Oxford. She is the author of Knowledge in English: Canon, Curriculum & Cultural Literacy (2020) which won the UKLA Academic Book Award 2022. Her work is...
HE Lecturer at University College London
John Yandell taught in inner London secondary schools for twenty years before moving to the Institute of Education, UCL, where he has worked since 2003. As a teacher and a teacher educator, he has written extensively on policy and pedagogy,...
Deputy Head, School of Education at Anglia Ruskin University
Steve Connolly is Deputy Head of the School of Education at Anglia Ruskin University. His research interests focus on Media Education, Literacies, Curricular Knowledge and Teacher Education. He is the author of "The Changing Role of Media in the...
Senior Lecturer in Education at Leeds Trinity University
Charlotte (@commahound) has taught English in 5 secondary schools over nearly 3 decades, and is currently Senior Lecturer in Education at Leeds Trinity University. She is also studying for an Education Doctorate with a focus on how Secondary...
Lecturer in English Education at University of Sussex
Sue taught secondary English for 17 years before moving to Sussex University to lead the secondary English PGCE. Sue's Masters in Education dissertation was a case study exploring mentoring secondary English trainee teachers. She is currently...
Associate Professor of Secondary English Education at University of Reading
Rachel was an English teacher for 10 years before moving into HE; she is now Associate Professor of English Education at the IoE, University of Reading, where she runs the Secondary English PGCE and is Deputy Director of the Secondary PGCE...
Senior Lecturer, Director of Teaching and Learning at University of Sussex
As a Senior Lecturer in English education and Co-Director of Teaching and Learning in ESW at Sussex, I teach and supervise on a range of courses, including the MA in Education, PGCE English and PhDs. Research interests include reading, dialogic...
Associate Professor in Education at University of Bristol
Dr Lorna Smith is an associate professor in Education at the University of Bristol. A former Head of English, she has been involved in English initial teacher education (ITE) for 20 years and has led the secondary English PGCE course at Bristol...
Associate Professor at University of Warwick
Rebecca Morris is an associate professor in the Department of Education Studies at the University of Warwick. Her research interests include education and social policy; teachers and teaching (in both schools and higher education); social justice...
Senior Lecturer in Sport & PE & EDI Lead at University of Bedfordshire
Before taking up the position of Senior Lecturer in Sport and Physical Education at the University of Bedfordshire I worked in a wide variety of schools over twelve years. I am the EDI Co-lead across UoB as well as the faculty EDI Lead. I...
Senior Lecturer in English at University of Bedfordshire
Lecturer and Assistant Programme Lead at University of Derby
Kayte Haselgrove taught English and led on teacher training and professional development in further education from 2010–21. She worked for the Education and Training Foundation for six years as a trainer, action research mentor, author and...
Senior Lecturer in Childhood Studies at Canterbury Christ Church University
I am a Senior Lecturer in Childhood Studies at Canterbury Christchurch University. I am the module lead for several units from levels 4 – 6, including units focused on topics such as research methods, special educational needs and disability,...
Senior Lecturer (Education & English) at University of Bedfordshire
Dr Oli Belas is senior lecturer in the School of Education and English, University of Bedfordshire. His has teaching and research inerests in various areas of English, creative writing, education, and philosophy.
Associate Professor of Applied Teaching and Learning at Anglia Ruskin University
Dr Jo Bowser-Angermann is an associate professor in Applied Teaching and Learning at Anglia Ruskin University. Jo specialised in English but has had experience of teaching all age ranges, which has given her an in-depth understanding of the...
Academic Liaison Librarian at University of Bedfordshire
My name is Sofia Mavrogeni and I am an Academic Liaison Librarian at the University of Bedfordshire. I am new in my profession and my teaching experience is currently still limited. I undertook my personal studies in education studying Business...
Senior Lecturer in Education at the University of Bedfordshire at University of Bedfordshire
Dr Neil Hopkins is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Bedfordshire. His books include 'Citizenship and Democracy in Further and Adult Education' (2013) and 'Democratic Socialism and Education: New Perspectives in Policy and Practice'...
Senior Lecturer Post Compulsory Education at University of Bedfordshire
Senior Lecturer at University of Bedfordshire
Principal Lecturer in English Language and Linguistics at University of Bedfordshire
Theo Maniski is a principal lecturer in English Language and Linguistics at the University of Bedfordshire, and routinely works with the NHS as a communication consultant. He started teaching English language in the 1980s and has since worked...
Senior Lecturer in English Literature at University of Bedfordshire
I am a Senior Lecturer at the University of Bedfordshire, UK where I lead the English undergraduate provision. I received my PhD from De Montfort University, UK in 2007 and my research interests include: early twentieth century women writers,...
Associate Professor in Language Assessment at University of Bedfordshire
The English in Education SIG is a forum for researchers to investigate what is a broad and complex area of knowledge: our starting point is the school subject of English, but we embrace many...
Kindly supported by the:
The Institute for Research in Education
Kindly supported by the:
NATE [The National Association for the Teaching of English]
